If you ask Andrew, being a budtender means guiding people through the process of what works for their mind and their body. “Everybody’s got a thing,” he says. “For me, cannabis has always stood out as something that brings people closer to themselves.” Andrew has been with cannabis since 2008, long before dispensaries became mainstream. His family was divided on the “live peace, pot, and microdot” kind of mindset, but early on he realized that he needed to carve out his own beliefs. He felt drawn to the concept that people who used cannabis regularly seemed happier and more grounded.
Andrew’s approach to helping someone new to cannabis is figuring out what has been holding them back. Let’s face it, there are stigmas around smoking weed. There could also be the fear of getting too high, or just not knowing where to start. Andrew builds a path for people based where someone is rather than where they think they should be. His focus starts small on the cannabinoid, and then goes from there. This grounded thoughtful energy is exactly what makes Andrew such a great fit for the Ivy Hall community.
Though Ivy Hall’s is Andrew’s first official dispensary job, he’s been a consumer in the space for years. He was customer #5 at Verilife in Romeoville when legal recreational sales began in Illinois on January 1, 2020. He describes the early dispensaries as doctor’s offices rather than a community space. Ivy Hall has flipped this narrative. There’s art hanging up on the walls, plants in the windows, and budtenders who actually care about your experience. There’s no assumptions, no judgement. Just people helping people.
When it comes to products, Andrew’s all about the quality. Right now, he’s been smoking Snapple by The Other Side. He describes the strain as “a breath of fresh air – color, taste, and smell all captivating.” He’s also been using Avexia’s pain relief balm to unwind after long shifts or event weekends. To zone out and relax, he’ll reach for small batch cold cure rosin and load it into his PuffCo Peak for a terp-rich, cannabinoid-heavy session. On the flip side, when he wants to get outside and keep moving, he’ll turn to VIBATIONS THCV drink infusions. “It helps me stay hydrated and keeps my appetite in check while I’m in project mode.
Off the sales floor, Andrew is a family guy. He recently took his kids to K1 Speedway in Addison, raving about the energy of the staff cheering them on. His weekends often include mowing the lawn while blasting SsB through his Peavey speakers. “The music is the pulse for the flow of the vibe. Can’t let it get too complicated. Find what you like and play it over and over and over again a million times if that’s what your soul wants.”
When asked about his dream smoke sesh, Andrew did not hesitate. “Always and forever with my dad,” he says. “We didn’t have a lot of time together, but we matched on such a deep level.” His love for his dad is profound, and he’ll “smoke to the sky” every now and again to remind himself that nothing is forever.
Just down the sales floor from Andrew is Danny. Starting as a part-time budtender, his curiosity about the plant and passion about changing the stigma around cannabis grew into an opportunity to become the General Manager of the Glendale Heights location. “I saw it as an opportunity to help change the stigma,” he says. “I figured I could learn so much while working as a budtender that I can educate others on it. Plus, it always seemed like a fun job to have!”
In his first-ever role as General Manager, Danny is proud of the way his Glendale Heights team embraced him from day one. “They started calling me the GM before I even considered taking the role,” he says. “It’s my first GM position and I hadn’t worked with anyone on the team before, but they adopted me super quick.” Danny sees more motivation, more pride, and genuine excitement from the team. “Everyone seems happy to be here.”
Even though Ivy Hall is Danny’s first dispensary job, he caught on very quickly that this place was different from the other dispensaries down the road . When he started at Ivy Hall Waukegan, he realized that a lot of the people that were coming from different dispensaries didn’t have the great customer service that Ivy prides itself on. “We don’t just want people to come in and buy weed, we want people to have an experience, and we always strive for that,” he says.
Outside of the shop, Danny likes to keep it simple. He feels most fulfilled when he’s at home cooking a good meal or putting on a UFC fight on a Saturday night rather than going out. His cup of tea is a hash hole or a splash of surps. ““I’d rather chill at home, eat something good, and just enjoy the high,” he admits.
As he now takes over the Glendale Heights store, he likes to remember what it was like to be on the floor taking customers through the Ivy Hall experience. “I don’t ever want to forget what it was like to be a budtender,” he says. He wants to continue to teach people his passion, and that’s what helps him stay connected and understand the team as he transitions into this lead role.
